Study of Jainism

Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 34

Tirthankara Rsabhadeva
19
the benefit of his subjects. This was the beginning of jurisprudence and law. Sthananga Vrtti 85 mentions the four-fold scheme of punitive law : 1) Paribhasa (fiercely shouting at the criminal) 2) Mandala Bandha (Restricting the movement of the person) 3) Caraka (putting in prison) 4) Cchaviccheda (punishing with mutilation of the organs of the body) Adipuraņa mentions the four-fold distinction of the punitive law as the legal and political technic as expressed in (1) Sama (persuasion) (2) Dama (bringing pressure) (3) Danda (punishment) (4) Bhēda (creating rift among the enemies). 38 According to Ācarya Abhayadeva the four-fold scheme mentioned in the Sthananga Vrtti was introduced at the time of Bharata, the son of Rşabha 37 Ācarya Bhadrabahu and Malayagiri 38 have stated that the penal procedure of Bandha and Ghata (use 'of physical force) were introduced by Rșabha.
The next important task before Rşabha was the problem of providing food, shelter and protection to his subjects. Rşabha taught his subjects Agriculture (Krși) and the art of the use of arms for defence (asi). He introduced the use of fire for cooking with earthen pots. Atharvaveda 39 therefore describes him as possessing the characteristic of Agni-Jataveda.
Education was not neglected. He introduced imparting of education to his subjects and he taught 72 arts for men and 64 arts for women. Acarya Jinasena has mentioned six prominent distinctions in the arts and sciences prevalant in his time : (1) Asi (the use of arms) (2) Mași (writing) (3) Krși (agriculture) (4) Vidya (Education) (5) Vånijya (trade and commerce) and (6) Silpa (art and architecture). 40 Bharata, the eldest son, was taught Arthasastra (Economics), Sangraha Prakaruņa (Social sciences) and Nrtya Sastra (Dance). Rşabhasena was taught Gandharva Vidya, Ananta Vijaya was taught Citrakala and so on. Bahubali was taught aesthetics. Sundari was taught Mathematics and Brahmi was taught Alphabets and literature 41 The first alphabets have been therefore called Brahmilipi Thus we find that Rşabha was the first to introduce the imparting of Education among his subjects. The status of women was considered to be equal to that of men.
Rşabhadeva, for the first time, classified his subjects into three classes (Varņa): Kșatriya, Vaisya and S'ūdra. 42 This classification